robstephenson

[robstephenson]

This week, for my project visiting and documenting every neighborhood in NYC, I went to Pigtown in the heart of Brooklyn.

If you have never heard of Pigtown, that’s because it hasn’t been called that since the 60s when the name Wingate was reluctantly assigned to the neighborhood. Realtors preferred to list their apartments for rent in Wingate rather than Pigtown for obvious reasons. The name didn’t really catch on, so most people consider this neighborhood either Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts or East Flatbush. Still, I’m calling it Pigtown.

It’s where Rudy Guliani grew up, where Patrick Scully instigated a fight with a pack of 100 pigs under the mistaken assumption that they were dogs, and where Thomas “The Terror of Pigtown” McCormick walked into a barbershop and ate two live canaries for no good reason.

Today, it’s home to the African Record Center and the hottest falafel in New York City.

If you want to see/read/hear more visit the link up above. The Neighborhoods is a free email newsletter that covers a different neighborhood in NYC each week.

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #brookyln #Pigtown

[robstephenson]

Just emailed out my penultimate newsletter of the year, covering Westerleigh in Staten Island where they take the holidays very seriously.

Once called Prohibition Park, it was a hotbed of the temperance movement until people got tired of the whole non drinking thing.

I get into that, the poetry of John Boner, Kool-Aid man’s double life, Lil’ Jon’s Christmas song, Charles Mingus’ egg nog recipe and much more, so if you haven’t already subscribed check it out here

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork

[robstephenson]

Brooklyn Navy Yard

This week, I wrote about the Brooklyn Navy Yard where I've had a studio for the past 15 years.

The Navy Yard sits on the edge of Wallabout Bay, where 16 British Prison ships, "floating dungeons," were anchored during the Revolutionary War. 11,000 prisoners died on the ships, and their bones were interred in a crypt in Fort Greene Park.

Nowadays, it’s where Beyoncé rehearses for her next tour and a good place to test out driverless cars or pick up some chocolate babka.

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #brookyln

[robstephenson]

This week I visited the neighborhood of Arrochar in Staten Island as part of my project photographing every neighborhood in NYC. Arrochar (arrow-car) was once home to not one but two Major-General Count Cherep-Spiridovichs, neither of whom you would want to spend much time with.

It was also the site of recent anti-immigrant protests that spurred Borough President Vito Fossella to renew calls for the borough to secede from NYC.

To read/hear/see more, check out The Neighborhoods

#nyc #everyneighborhoodinnewyork #staten island

[robstephenson]

#queens #everyneighborhoodinnewyork #nyc

[robstephenson]

This week's edition of the neighborhood visited Chelsea, Manhattan.

To see more, subscribe to my weekly newsletter.

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #nyc #chelsea

[robstephenson]

New newsletter out today covering Randall’s island in Manhattan.

Learn about the idiot asylum, the Woodstock hangover, how I broke someone’s $500 golf club, and much much more.

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #randallsisland

[robstephenson]

New edition of my newsletter the Neighborhoods is out today, this time looking at Port Morris in the Bronx. Once the piano factory capitol of the world, this neighborhood is the closest you can get to the  wreck of the HMS Hussar and her cargo of 1/2 a billion dollars worth of gold. As long as Joey Treasures doesn’t get to it first..

Read more and subscribe (its free) here:

This week’s newsletter covers Port Morris in the Bronx. Once the piano factory capitol of the world, this neighborhood is the closest you can get to the  wreck of the HMS Hussar and her cargo of 1/2 a billion dollars worth of gold. As long as Joey Treasures doesn’t get to it first..

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #thebronx #portmorris #welcometothebronx

[robstephenson]

Edgemere

[robstephenson]

Today’s newsletter is my first one from Rockaway where I have been photographing for nearly 20 years. These pictures from what I now know is called Edgmere, document the land that New York Mag called “a testing ground for urban entropy”

Visit Hog Island with Dr. Doom , meet a hermit who inadvertently paid for his girlfriend’s wedding - to his own brother and more!!

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #queens #rockaway

[robstephenson]

This week’s newsletter is a deep dive into Murray Hill, Manhattan. Ever wondered what that giant abyss just south of the United Nations is? Want to learn how to terrify your nanny? Hate Pickleball? Well, this newsletter is for you. Read more at www.theneighborhoods.substack.com

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork

[robstephenson]

This week's edition of the Neighborhoods, my weekly newsletter documenting every neighborhood in NYC, is a look at the stars n' stripes in their various incarnations throughout the city.

You can subscribe (for free) and read more here: The Neighborhoods

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #4th of july #independence day

[robstephenson]

Long Island City

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #LIC #NYC #Queens

[robstephenson]

New newsletter out today looking at Mariners Marsh in Staten Island Read/subscribe at THE NEIGHBORHOODS

[robstephenson]

This week’s newsletter looks at the neighborhood of Crotona Park East in the Bronx Once called the worst slum in America, now home to frolicking dolphins and Love Wraps. Subscribe to the newsletter ( it’s free) to see more

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork #crotonaparkeast #thebronx

[robstephenson]

This week’s newsletter explores the neighborhood of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn Find out what happens when you cross ten discalced nuns with Despacito remixes and get Insane in the Membrane in Fame’s Eternal Camping Ground. Link to newsletter here

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork

[robstephenson]

Trees, Utopia, Queens From my project photographing every neighborhood in NYC. Sign up for the newsletter HERE

#everyneighborhoodinnewyork